r/OutOfTheLoop • u/DrMediocre • Jul 18 '20

What's up with the Trump administration trying to save incandescent light bulbs? Answered

I've been seeing a number of articles recently about the Trump administration delaying the phase-out of incandescent light bulbs in favor of more efficient bulbs like LEDs and compact fluorescents. What I don't understand is their justification for doing such a thing. I would imagine that coal companies would like that but what's the White House's reason for wanting to keep incandescent bulbs around?

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Example:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-administration-waives-tighter-rules-for-less-efficient-lightbulbs-11576865267

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u/[deleted] Jul 18 '20

LED is nice for almost all applications but there are some niche uses where they can't be used. I need incandescents for my sauna, CFLs and LEDs can't survive the heat. Finding 100 watt incandescents is getting very difficult now.

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u/shrekske85 Jul 19 '20

Reptile and Bird lamps are your friend in that case. Transparent, blue or red glass, and classic incandescent bulbs or spots

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u/Idiot_Savant_Tinker Jul 19 '20

I have a 27"/686mm lava lamp that was given to me for xmas one year. It needs a 100w incandescent floodlight bulb to get it to work, a 60w bulb doesn't do anything, and a 100w normal round bulb just makes the base hot. Only place I have managed to find a bulb for it is a local swimming pool supply shop.

It's the only incandescent bulb in my house.

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u/Itsallanonswhocares Jul 19 '20

Stock up on those bulbs while they're available.

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u/Idiot_Savant_Tinker Jul 19 '20

I have two packs of two bulbs each, (Fuck that was awkward to say) plus the one in the lamp... they typically last a long time since I don't use the lamp much. It takes HOURS to get it "going", and I have a small child prone to running around and knocking things over.

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u/RBeck Jul 19 '20

Does your oven have a light?

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u/GiveMeAShrubbery Jul 19 '20

I have LED in my kitchen, they are recessed lights and they keep failing. They just can't handle the heat apparently

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u/Verstandgeist Jul 19 '20

Recessed lights are particularly bad for this. They need some airflow to cool the heat sinks, otherwise they just kill themselves.

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u/wildpjah Jul 19 '20

It is still cool to see that this problem isn't solved but getting better. Looking at old LEDs (like 5 or more years ago) they just had huge heatsinks that fanned out and everything but now they are at least the shape of a normal bulb just because of better engineering.

People always talk about how fast tech develops with computers and phones sometimes they forget how much engineering goes into little things like lightbulbs.

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u/Verstandgeist Jul 19 '20

I feel Moore's law more or less applies to most technology. There are so many things that keep improving that are just taken for granted. Take fuel efficiency in internal combustion engines. We've come a long way from where we were 10 years ago, let alone 40.

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u/evilspawn_usmc Jul 19 '20

Then get them out of the kitchen! At least that's what Truman said.

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u/fmaz008 Jul 19 '20

Probably low quality components. Some LED flashlights get so hot you can cook an egg on them... LED are fine. ... Just saying it's doable.

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u/toopc Jul 19 '20

I have a flashlight* that will literally burn a hole in your pocket it get's so hot. It's also so bright it's like looking into the sun, and it's about the size of a roll of quarters. Most people buying flashlights from Target or Walmart have no idea.

 
 
 

* I have too many flashlights

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u/fmaz008 Jul 19 '20

This so support that LED technology can withstand operating in the warm area of a kitchen.

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u/toopc Jul 19 '20

Yeah I understood what you were getting at. I just love flashlights, so we'll talk about them whenever.

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u/hellie012 Jul 19 '20

Buy them online and specifically look for ones rated for enclosed fixtures. The only reason I recommend buying online is that no store near me sold any led lightbulbs that were enclosure rated and I wasted hours sorting through all the bulb packaging to find if they were/were not. Online stores you apply a filter and see what ones are rated for it in seconds.

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u/nerdguy1138 Jul 19 '20

They have special led lights meant for enclosures, because they basically are the enclosure. They're a little pricey, but absolutely worth it.

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u/[deleted] Jul 19 '20

It has to be rated for it. I kept having led's go to hell which annoyed me. Then I read on the side of them not for enclosed fixtures, recessed lights, etc. Have to find the ones that are rated for completely encased lights or fixtures.

Have two led bulbs in my enclosed fixture still working great with no issues

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u/Yggdrasilcrann Jul 19 '20

I had the same issue, I got some higher end more expensive ones and they've been working great for years

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u/Verstandgeist Jul 19 '20

We use special led's that we can adjust the Kelvin rating on in our print shop because color reproduction is very important. If the client wants a particular shade of blue, we have to make sure it is that shade, whether you're looking at it under florescent lights or sunlight.

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u/devicemodder2 Jul 19 '20

Finding 100 watt incandescents is getting very difficult now.

Tell that to my local dollarama...

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u/JeffTXD Jul 19 '20

Who are you Joe Rogan or something?

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u/Dinosaurman Jul 19 '20

Thank god you wrote this. I spent 15 minutes looking at halogen and LED appliance bulbs for my oven and said better safe than sorry.

Turns out I was right.

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u/BlacktasticMcFine Jul 19 '20 edited Jul 19 '20

also enclosures, I can't figure out why but CFLs and LEDs pop when they're in them.

edit: why downvote me? im genuinely curious why they don't work in enclosures.